Baseball for the Absolute Experts Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I set a record for being the youngest pitcher to win 20 games in a season at the age of 17. Before that, I was the youngest to pitch a complete game victory at the age of 16. I only played for seven seasons, and retired as a Philadelphia Phillie. Who am I?

Answer: Willie McGill

McGill in 1890 as a 16-year old, defeated the Buffalo Bisons while pitching for the Cleveland Infants of the Players League. As a 17-year old in 1891, Willie went 21-15, winning 19 of those with the St. Louis Browns of the American Association. McGill retired in 1896 as a Philadelphia Phillie, with a career record of 72-74.

2. Which of the following never won a Triple Crown in their great career?

Answer: Stan Musial

Amazingly with Musial's career feats, he never won the Triple Crown. He came close three times in 1948, 1949, and 1951. Stan won the MVP in 1943, 1946, and 1948. The 22-season Cardinal retired his bat in 1963, then was inducted into the hall with his .331 average in 1969. Lajoie's Triple Crown came in 1901 with the Philadelphia Athletics, Klein in 1933 with the Phillies, and Medwick with the 1937 Cardinals.

3. Who was the first National League pitcher to throw a no-hitter?

Answer: George Bradley

The National League's first season was in 1876, and George Bradley of the St. Louis Brown Stockings was there. Bradley started and appeared in 64 games in the season, going 45-19, and completed every game but one. He also led the league in ERA with an amazing 1.23 in 573 innings. Joe Borden was credited with throwing baseball's first no-hitter, but this came in 1875 when he played for the Philadelphia Whites of the National Association.

4. I had a pretty good bat for a pitcher. In one season with just under 100 at-bats, I hit .433 and even hit two home runs. I retired with a career .235 average after over 20 seasons. Who am I?

Answer: Walter Johnson

In 1925, Johnson had a career high 42 hits in the season. Walter, known for his tremendous arm for 21 seasons, had 24 career home runs in addition to his .235 career average.

5. I had a tremendous season. I am Joe Jackson and hit .408 in the 1911 season with the Cleveland Indians. I was still the runner-up for the batting crown to who that out-hit me with .420?

Answer: Ty Cobb

In Jackson's first full season in the Major Leagues, he hit an amazing .408 in 1911 with 233 hits. Joe took a backseat to the Tigers' Ty Cobb who hit a ridiculous .420 with 248 hits. Although Joe hit over .400, he still finished fourth in the MVP voting behind Cobb, Ed Walsh of the White Sox, and Eddie Collins of the Athletics. George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns hit .420 in 1922. Jackson was banned from baseball in 1920 after a result of his World Series attempted fix in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal when he played for the White Sox.

6. In 1988, Dodger Orel Hershiser broke fellow Dodger Don Drydale's record of 58 consecutive shutout innings pitched in 1968. There was one controversial issue with Drysdale's streak. In 1968, Drysdale, after pitching four consecutive shutouts, had a 3-0 lead going into the ninth inning against the Giants. Drysdale had filled the bases in the ninth inning on this May day. The next batter was hit by the pitch, apparently forcing home a run stopping the streak, but the home plate umpire, Harry Wendelstadt, ruled that the batter made no attempt to get out of the way of the pitch, and ordered him back to home plate. On the following pitch, the batter flied out to left field. Who was this batter that tried to break Drysdale's streak?

Answer: Dick Dietz

Ron Hunt set a record for being hit 50 times in a season in 1971, he was also hit 25 times in 1968 with the Giants. It was the Giants' catcher Dick Dietz, who was hit only one time in the 1968 season who was amidst this controversy. Drysdale threw a career high eight shutouts in 1968, then retired after the following season.

7. Which left-handed great set a baseball record for throwing the most shutouts in a season?

Answer: Ed Morris

Nicknamed 'Cannonball', Morris threw 12 shutouts in the 1886 season with the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association. Morris' career lasted seven seasons and he won 171 games. Koufax of the Dodgers fell short by throwing 11 shutouts in 1963, which helped him win the Cy Young, MVP, and Triple Crown. Carlton threw a career high eight shutouts in 1972 with the Phillies. George 'Doggie' Miller was a catcher in the 19th century and never pitched.

8. In 1865, the first pro baseball gambling scandal emerged. Three players were suspended for their confessions in fixing a game. Which team had the dubious honor of being finger-pointed in this the inaugural of many investigations involving gambling allegations with future baseball organizations?

Answer: New York Mutuals

Three players had the finger-point in this first-ever allegation. The three players who were with the New York Mutuals were Thomas Devry, Edward Duffy, and William Wamsley. They admitted conspiring with gamblers to lose a game between the Mutuals and the Brooklyn Eckfords. The Mutuals suspended the three players, only to have them reinstated three months later.

9. Who was the first Major League player to strikeout 1900 times in their career?

Answer: Willie Stargell

In 1980, Willie 'Pops' Stargell reached this unfortunate milestone. He retired as a career Pittsburgh Pirate in 1982 after 21 seasons with 1936 whiffs. In 1982, Reggie Jackson took over Stargell's career high, then continued to an amazing 2597 strikeouts after 21 seasons of his own. Mantle retired with 1710 strikeouts, and Ruth with 1330.

10. Who was the first player in Major League history to have their jersey number retired?

Answer: Lou Gehrig

Gehrig of the Yankees in his 17 seasons, had his number 4 retired in 1939 when he was forced to retire due to an illness. Lou was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same season. He died in 1941.

Source: Author Nightmare

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A designed real tough but all multiple choice quiz about pro baseball as only the experts know it. I hope that it is educational for you. Good luck! :-)

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